DHHL is seeking a private attorney

[TomK]

What, precisely, do you propose the current observatories do?

[kalakoa]

What, precisely, do you propose the current observatories do?

Have a bake sale to raise money for more lawyers?

[TomK]

Very funny. Lawyers for what?

[kalakoa]

Lawyers for what?

A good legal team should be able to write some strongly worded letters, which might even be published as editorial content in the local newspaper.

[TomK]

I was hoping you might have taken things seriously since so many local people's jobs and futures are being affected by the current protest, but obviously not.

[kalakoa]

hoping you might have taken things seriously

I'm not the one bending over backwards to make sure that a small vocal minority gets its way over the interests of the larger population. From where I sit, nobody is taking any of this seriously: I have yet to see any substantive action, just endless words. It's especially "serious" when the Attorney General uses the word "unlawful" ... and then promptly does nothing.

Hence this commentary: if we're not going to use anything stronger than words, then the telescope community might as well hire expensive lawyers to use the biggest words possible, printed on nice letterhead, hand-delivered. I think the words "breach of public trust" might apply, or at least "breach of contract", assuming that the ground lease terms stipulate access and/or availability of the land for the intended purpose.

so many local people's jobs and futures are being affected

I hate to point this out, but: those people should have thought of that before they moved here. The islands have a very limited job market, and local employment is not guaranteed. Anything could happen, from a volcanic eruption to a hurricane to a newly-empowered "native" population deciding they've had enough and the rest of you can go back where they came from.

Another thought: if the protestors want to claim "native", perhaps we should sequence the DNA of every single one, and only allow protest rights to those with a minimum 50% blood quanta. If anyone can assert their "rights" just by claiming to be Hawaiian, well then I'm Hawaiian too, where can I set up my unpermitted structures on beneficiary land? I would like a personal acre, but I can make do with a quarter-acre, especially if it comes with good road access and a set of colorful flags.

[TomK]

quote:

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Originally posted by kalakoa

so many local people's jobs and futures are being affected

I hate to point this out, but: those people should have thought of that before they moved here.

---

What an unbelievably crass comment.

[kalakoa]

What an unbelievably crass comment.

Yes. It also happens to be true, and will remain true until and unless someone does something more than just talking about the problem behind the scenes.

It's almost like the scientific community has been sold down the river. Just don't be crass about it, someone might take offence.

[TomK]

Yes. It also happens to be true, and will remain true until and unless someone does something more than just talking about the problem behind the scenes.

The unborn should have chosen not to have been born here and instead decide to have been born elsewhere? This is what you are saying. And if you don't mind me saying so, is the whackiest thing I've read in a long time.

[kalakoa]

the whackiest thing I've read in a long time

Almost as whacky as suspending the rule of law for a certain ethnic group.